Ladder-assembling machine.



V. E. HAYWARD.

LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. le. |915.

1;2G9,705. Patmd Dee. 26,1916.

. v 35% jfumia? Z @MM www:

me mwms nnsns cu.. momumu., Wa'smuc mv. u. c.

@um Moz: v @mW/0 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

ff f' v. E.` HAYWARD. LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 181 |915.

r. n N. m m n n w a. m M m P n m n n N E m v. E. HAYWARD.

LADDER ASSEMBLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. la. |915. PatentedDec. 1916' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

7i, if

@Ud/mwen: gummi,

vERNER E. HAYWARD, or DAVENPORT, Iowa.v

incarica.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LnnnER-AssEMBLING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed September 18, 1915. Serial No. 51,388.

ToaZZ whom t may concern Y Be it known that I, VERNER E. HAYWARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county ofScott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ladder e Assembling Machines, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to improvements` in a machine embodying a minimumnumber `of parts and simple in opera-tion, for supporting the differentconstituents of a ladder to` permit the same to be assembled in theirproper position while the said parts are being secured together.- y Afurther object of the invention is ...to

provide a mechanism wherein the clamping y Y bars constitute a lateralsupportmfor the ladder stile, and having one of these clamping barsadjustable to permit the; construc-` tion of ladders of differentwidths, Aand the other of said `clamping bars being movable by poweractuated means to forcethe VStiles into engagement with the rungs.

y A still further object of theinventionjis the provision of `rungsupporting-fingers, whereby the rungs carried thereon `are capable of alimited movement to yieldably 3 support the rung in place and allowsufiicient play with the Stiles and rungs so that the different partsofthe ladder may be held together during-the clamping action withoutcausing any warping orbendingof'the` same. Y 's l i Vith the above andother objects in view the invention consists of a clamping machine andits parts to be more fully set forth in the accompanyingspecificationand drawings in which- Figure V1 is a top plan view of theparts broken away; Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sectional views of the same;and Figs. 1, A, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numeralsindicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates a supportingstructure for the clamping mechanism consisting-of two parallel rows ofspaced supporting standards 2 having secured thereto the `brackets 3.These brackets are axially alined and of substantially inverted L shapeformation, being secured to the standards by cross pins 3 passingthrough apertures therein and through the supporting standards 2, andthe bearing portions thereof arranged flush with the upper edges of thestandards.

. Secured to each pair of axially alined brackets 3 and connectedthereto by bolts 2 are the transversely extending supporting plates 4,each having a flat-face and projecting beyond the plane of the bracketson each side thereof. Each supporting plate is providedon one side withan elongated slot 4'.. by which a filler block 5 having a registeringslot 6 therein is adjustably secured to the supporting plate, the iillerblock 5 extending from the edge of the bracket 3 to the outer portion ofthe plate 1, and is secured in position by a threaded bolt 6' passingthrough the apertures in the plated and filler block 5. k s;

Resting on each filler block is a longitudinally extending adjustableclamping. bar 7 of angular formation secured in position` by the bolts6a, the upwardly extending part of the clamping bar constituting alateral support for the ladder stile 6, which ladder stile is providedwith a series of regularly spaced openings 8 lcorresponding in number tothe number of rungs used in the construction of the ladder to permit therungs tobe nailed to the stile when the clamping frame is in its closedposition. Extending upwardly from the clamping bars 7 and 17 are aplurality of arms 9 each carrying at their upper ends outwardlyextending pivoted pins adapted vto support a. fastening latchll providedwith a stile gripping part 12 and an operating handle 10', whereby thestile is rigidly retained in any desired position.

Arranged on each supporting plate at the opposite side thereof andoverlying the standards are the guide blocks 13 each guide block havingtransverse guide ways 14E therein, which coperate with a tongue 15extending from the pressure plates 16 to which the longitudinallyextending movable clamping bar- 17 is attached. rihe clamping bar 17also constitutes a lateral support for one of the stiles and is of thesame formation as the clamping bar 7. The movable clamping bar 17,however, is adapted to have a lateral movement so that the same may bemoved to an open or closed position upon the actuation of a controllingcylinder to be later described, and is provided with a series ofoutwardly projecting lugs 1S constituting a means whereby the lever foractuating the clamping bar can be attached thereto to enable the same tobe moved to the desired position. Both of the clamping bars are providedwith the adjustable stops 19 so that the ladders of different lengthsmay be constructed at the willof the operator, these stops 19 being ofangular' formation and secured in position by bolts 19 passing throughapertures in the clamping bars.

Adjustably secured to the transverse plates l by the threaded bolts 20are the rung supports 21. rihese supports being fastened to the threadedbolts 20 at their upper ends by a cross pin 21 are held in differentposition of adjustment by the nuts 23 arranged on the threaded bolts 2Oupon each side of the transverse plates 4i. The rung supports,preferably two in number,

are arranged parallel with each other, andprovided with a series ofaxially alined rectangular openings 23 in their upper edges, and havinga. pivoted rung supporting finger 24. adjacent each opening upon whichthe rung rests, the rung supporting fingers each having a substantiallyAV shaped pocket therein of smaller area than the adjacent rectangularopening 23, and are pivoted to the supporting bars 21 intermediate theirends by cross bolts 26, the outer ends of each finger having acounterweight 27 by which the finger supporting the rungs are normallyheld in a raised position. rlhese fingers are of such a constructionthat the upward movement thereof caused by the counterweight is liinitedby stop pins 28 projecting from the rung supports 21, but a slightbodily movement of the rung is permitted so that the said rungs areyieldably supported to prevent the warping or bending of the differentparts of the ladder during the clamping` thereof.

Pivotally attached to each transverse plate L at their outer portionsare the bell crank levers 29 having their arms 30 secured to theprojecting lugs 18 of the clamping bar 17 by means of the intermediatelink 18' andA also arms 31 attached to a longitudinally extending rod 32running parallel with the clamping bar, the rod 32 extending the entirelength of the machine and is pivotally attached to the arms 31 of all ofthe bell crank levers, and at its outer end is connected to a rockingmember 33 by means of a link connection 34, the rocking lever beingpivoted to a supporting arm 35 projecting from a power cylinder 35 atthe point 3G, and has alsoV a pivotal connection with the outer portionof the link member and the reciprocating piston rod 37. The rocking armis preferably actuated by means of a compressed air motor fed by thefeeding pipe 38', although it will be clearly apparent that any othermeans for reciprocating the said rocking arm may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.4

Having thus described the invention the operation is as follows: When itis desired to assemble a ladder the Stiles are placed on the transverseplates 4, adjacent the clamping bars 7 and 17, after which theadjustable clamping bar 7 is set to the desired position to determinethe width of the ladder and the longitudinal movable stops 19 areadjusted so that the stiles are held against any longitudinal movementand the length thereof determined. The rungs are placed upon the rungsupports 21 after the same have been adjusted, the said rungs restingonthe supporting lingers 24. Air is then introduced into the cylinder 38through the pipes 38 causing the rocking lever 33 to be pushedrearwardly, also moving the rod 31 and bell crank levers 29 to such aposition as to force the movable clamping bar 17 in a closed positionwhereby the stiles are pressed into engagement with the rungs andretained in this position until the different parts have been secured toeach other. When the ladder has been assembled air is again admitted tothe cylinder causing a reverse movement of the rocking arm, whichactuates the bell crank lever through the rod` 31 so that. the movableclamping bar 17 is pulled outwardly toV such a position that theassembled ladder may be taken from the frame.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided aladder assembling machine of very simple'construction and easilyperated, and is well adapted to perform the function desired.

Having thusfdescribed the invention what I claim is: j

1.111 a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting frame, means for supporting a ladder stile thereon, includingclamping bars, a rung support arranged between said clamping bars, a`pivoted supporting linger upon whichtherung rests attached to the rungsupport and capable of a slight rocking movement, and means for movingone of said clamping bars into an open or closed position.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with asupportingframe, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, includingclamping bars, a longitudinally extending rung support havingmountedgthereon a series of rocking supporting fingers whereby the rungis capable of a slight bodily movement, and means for` moving one ofsaid clamping bars into open orclosed position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting frame, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, includingclamping bars, a rung support arranged between said clamping barscomprising a member having attached thereto` a pivoted supportingi'inger upon which the rung rests, and means for moving one of saidclamping bars into an open and. closed position.

4. A machine of the class described, the combination with a supportingframe, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, including clampingbars, a plurality of longitudiyieldable nally extending rung supportsvhaving a series of pivoted counterweighted supporting fingers thereonto allow a slight bodily movement of the rungs, and meansfor moving oneot' said clamping bars into an open or closed position. -g

5. A machine of the class described, the combination with asupportingirame, means for supporting a ladder stile thereon, includingclamping bars, a vertically adjustable rung support arranged betweensaid clamping bars, movable fingers carried by said rung supports andupon which the rung rest, and means for moving one of said clamping barsinto an open or closed position.

6. A machine for the class described, the combination with a supportingframe, means for supporting a ladder stile thereon, including clampingbars, a vertically adjustable rung support having mounted a series ofcounterweighted fingers upon which the rung rests, means for positivelyretaining the Vrung supports in their adjusted positions between theclamping bars and means for moving one of said bars to an open or closedposition.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting frame of clamping members, means for supporting ladder stilesupon the frame, rung supports arranged between said clamping members,and having axially alined openings therein, a rung supporting tingeradjacent each ot' said openings upon which the rungs rest, the saidsupporting fingers being capable of a slight bodily movement to permitthe rungs to rise and fall within the openings in the rung supports, andmeans for moving one of said clamping bars into an open or closedposition.

8. 1n a ladder assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframe, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, a series oftransverse supporting plates arranged on said supporting frame, a lillerblock arranged on each of said plates at one end thereof, an adjustableclamping bar on said filler block, a guide block at the opposite end ofeach transverse plate, a movable clamping bar having a dovetailedconnection with said guide block, rung supports arranged between theclamping bars and means for moving one of' said clamping bars into anopen and closed position.

9. In a ladder assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframe, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, a series oftransverse supporting plates arranged on said supporting frame, a fillerblock arranged on each of said plates at one end thereof, an adjustableclamping bar on said filler blocks, a guide bloclr at the opposite endot" each transverse plate, a movable clamping har slidaoly mounted onsaid guide blocks, rung supports arranged between the clamping bars, andmeans for moving one ot said clamping bars into an open or closedposition, comprising a series of bell crank levers pivotally attached tothe movable clamping bars and operated by a power actuated mechanism. y

10. in a ladder assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframe, means for supporting stiles thereon, including clamping bars,longitudinally adjustable stops carried by said clamping bars preventingendwise movement of the stiles, rung supports for supporting the ladderrungs, and means .tor moving one of said clamping bars into a closedposition to clamp the stiles and rungs together.

11. 1n a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting frame, means for supporting ladder stiles thereon, includingclamping bars, a rung support arranged between said bars, a pivotedcounterweighted rung supporting finger upon which the rung restsattached to said rung support whereby the rung is permitted to have aslight bodily movement, and means `for moving one of said clamping barsinto an open or closed position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with asupporting frame, of means for supporting ladder stiles thereon,including clamping members, a rung support arranged between saidclamping members having an opening therein., a movable supporting lingerupon which the rung rests attached tosaid rung support adjacent the saidopening therein' whereby the rung is permitted to have a slight bodilymovement within the openings and means for moving one of said clampingbars into an open or closed position.

13. In a ladder assembling machine, the combination with a support forthe ladder stiles, of clamping devices carried thereby, and movable rungsupporting means for carrying the ladder rungs whereby a slight bodilymovement of the rungs relative to the stiles is permitted upon theactuation of one of the clamping devices, and means for actuating one ofsaid clamping' devices.

14:. In a ladder assembling machine, the combination with a support forladder stiles, of clamping devices carried thereby, verticallyadjustable rung supporting means for carrying the rungs, parts of thesaid rung supporting means being capable of slight movement whereby therungs may move bodily relative to the stiles, and means for actuatingone of said clamping devices.

15. In a ladder assembling machine, the combination witha support forthe ladder stiles, of clamping devices carried thereby, a rung support,movable rung supporting members carried thereby and upon which the rungsrest, each supporting member being capable of a slight movement, wherebya bodily movement of the rungs relative to the Stiles is permitted, andmeans for actuating one of said clamping devices.

16. In a ladder assembling machine and in combination, means forsupporting two ladder Stiles on edge, clamping devices for moving one ofsaid. stiles relative to the Lener/65T other, devices for securing thestiles in position on the supports, adjustable gaging stops carried bythe clamping devices for positioning the ladder Stiles upon the support,means interposed between the stiles for supporting andretaining inspaced relation a series of ladder rungs and means for advancing one ofthe clamping devices toward the other for setting the ends of the rung'ssimultaneously into the sockets in the stiles.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses'.

'VERNER E. HAYlVr-iRD.y Witnesses:

H. T. REEVES, CAROLYN A. Roon.

Copies'of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

